I Celebrate A Risen Savor

Introduction

We celebrate Easter today. In some ways, we do this because of the date on the calendar (it’s the first Sunday after the first full moon after the vernal equinox), but for us, as Christians, we ought to celebrate a risen savior every day. Why? Because Jesus’ triumph over death proves His supremacy in every area of life. No matter what is going on in your life today, Jesus is supreme over it. And that matters.

Transition

What are some ways we might celebrate a risen savior? Mark’s account of the resurrection in Mark 16 gives us some good suggestions.

Illumination

Let God Roll the Rock Away

Mark 16:1–4 NKJV

1 Now when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, that they might come and anoint Him. 2 Very early in the morning, on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen. 3 And they said among themselves, “Who will roll away the stone from the door of the tomb for us?” 4 But when they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away—for it was very large.

The women were coming to finish anointing Jesus’ body for burial. What they wanted to do was necessary, but how to do it was not something that they had figured out. They were clearly not expecting what they found. For those women, the rock in front of the tomb was an unsurmountable obstacle, but for God, it was no big deal.

What things are you facing today that seem like an unsurmountable obstacle? (A Pandemic, work issues, family issues, money issues, time issues, health issues, etc).

Even when we think we know what to do, we don’t often know how to do it. We need to remember to let God roll the rock away; it is no big deal to Him. It is a way to celebrate a risen savior.

Do Not Be Alarmed

Mark 16:5–6 NKJV

5 And entering the tomb, they saw a young man clothed in a long white robe sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed. 6 But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him.

The women were there to tend to a dead body, what they found (an open and empty tomb with an angelic messenger) was naturally shocking. But his message was (supposed to be) calming: Don’t be alarmed.

The women though they had reached the end of the story, but God wanted them to know He had a plan: they did not need to be alarmed.

How many times have we thought we had reached the end of the story only to find God had a plan? That’s how He rolls.

Many times we think we have reached the end of the story because of something we did. We tend to be really good at messing up God’s otherwise good story. When that happens, we get hard on ourselves. But God always has a plan.

This is seen readily in the Garden of Eden: Adam and Eve had messed up pretty thoroughly, but God had a plan.

Genesis 3:15 NKJV

15 And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel.”

Now, God’s plan was going to take some time, but He had it covered. One of the ways we can celebrate a risen savior is be freaking out less. Listen to the message of the angel, “do not be alarmed.”

Come and See

Mark 16:6 NKJV

6 But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him.

If you were to read the Gospels, and we just finished Mark recently, you have to notice that Jesus tried to prepare His followers for the day of His death and the promise of His resurrection. They clearly did not understand. So these women were surprised by the reality that they were suddenly confronted by.

Come and See at the tomb

That was the invitation of the angel

Come and See before the tomb

John 1:46 NKJV

46 And Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.”

That was the invitation of Phillip to his brother Nathaneal

Come and see all the time

Psalm 66:5 NKJV

5 Come and see the works of God; He is awesome in His doing toward the sons of men.

That is the invitation of the Psalmis to all who read his words

Come and See. It is one way that we can celebrate a risen savior: note what God is doing…and be amazed.

Come and See naturally becomes something else:

Go and Tell

Mark 16:7–8 NKJV

7 But go, tell His disciples—and Peter—that He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him, as He said to you.” 8 So they went out quickly and fled from the tomb, for they trembled and were amazed. And they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.

Having seen what God was doing, they should have gone and told. It is natural…think about going to see a movie you liked, or a concert you went to or a restaurant you enjoyed.

When we come and see things we like, we go and tell people we like.

The women were naturally amazed by what they witnessed, but they were also afraid. Fear kept them silent…for a while. The Gospels record that they did eventually go and tell. And then the rest of Jesus followers receive the same instruction from Jesus Himself.

Mark 16:15 NKJV

15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.

Go and Tell is another way that we can celebrate a risen savior. The question for many of us isn’t are we amazed? It is are we afraid? Will we eventually go and tell, or will we let fear paralize us and keep us silent.

Remember, your friends, family, neighbors, and co-workers, like the disciples, have no way of hearing about what God has done, if you don’t tell them.

Conclusion

The resurrection of Jesus is the center of Christian hope. In this cray world that is spiraling out of control, death and chaos seem to reign supreme. We need the truth of Jesus’ resurrection now, more than ever.

And more than just hearing about a risen savior, we need to celebrate a risen savior. Mark showed us some tangible, and relevant ways for us to do just that. Celebrate a risen savior!